Gloucester back James Simpson-Daniel is relishing the chance to push his claim for a World Cup place during England's two-Test tour of South Africa.

Brian Ashton's squad, who fly out to South Africa on Tuesday evening, are missing nearly 40 players for the trip.

"It's very easy to say 'oh you're missing this, that and the other', and fair enough we are," he told BBC Sport.

"But if players contribute something the coaches like, they could play themselves into the World Cup squad."

England meet the Springboks in Bloemfontein on 26 May, with the second Test taking place in Pretoria on 2 June.

The world champions have been hit hard by the decision not to pick players from Leicester and Wasps, who meet in the Heineken Cup final on 20 May, and Bath, who are in the European Challenge Cup final the day before.

It's a fantastic group of guys and there's a huge amount of talent there

Gloucester centre James Simpson-Daniel

There are concerns the tour could turn out like the infamous "Tour of Hell" in 1998, when a youthful England side were beaten 76-0 by Australia, but Gloucester second row Alex Brown insisted the players were not thinking along those lines.

"England have been written off for the tour. The media is already saying it's going to be a 'tour de farce', so we've got nothing to lose and everything to gain," he told BBC Sport.

"We can go out here and really play some good rugby and make our stake for the World Cup squad."

Gloucester, who were hammered 44-16 by Leicester in the Premiership final on Saturday, supply seven players after Peter Buxton's dislocated thumb ruled him out of the trip.

MISSING IN ACTION: The England stars and hopefuls who will not be in South Africa